/// Operational Protocols

BlackOps Market operates as a decentralized, non-logging e-commerce platform within the Tor network. Established in 2024, the infrastructure supports over 280,000 active users and 2,800+ verified vendors. The system enforces strict cryptographic standards, utilizing Monero (XMR) for all financial settlements and PGP (RSA/EdDSA) for communication integrity. All subsystems are designed for maximum privacy and zero data retention.

Connection to the BlackOps infrastructure requires a properly configured Tor daemon. The platform utilizes V3 Onion Services with client authorization capabilities. Traffic is routed through multiple relays to obfuscate user origin. Users must ensure their client is configured to restrict active content (NoScript) to maintain the integrity of the connection and prevent local de-anonymization vectors.

Registration is open but requires immediate cryptographic setup. Upon account creation, users must import a PGP public key. This key is cryptographically bound to the account profile and is required for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), session validation, and the decryption of sensitive internal communications. Accounts without PGP keys are restricted from functional access to the market core.

Server authenticity is validated via the BlackOps Root PGP Key. Every mirror, canary, and critical announcement is cryptographically signed. Users should verify the signature against the public key found in the 'pgp.txt' file. Additionally, the login challenge-response mechanism utilizes a user-defined secret phrase to confirm the legitimacy of the session interface, ensuring you are connected to the authentic backend.

The platform runs on a hardened, minimal-kernel Linux architecture with diskless operation for critical nodes. All data at rest is encrypted using AES-256. The system architecture is designed to be zero-knowledge regarding user metadata; logs are essentially nonexistent, and data retention policies are set to immediate purge upon order finalization.

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is the foundational layer of trust on the darknet. It ensures end-to-end encryption for all sensitive data transmission, specifically shipping details. By enforcing PGP, BlackOps Market ensures that even in the event of a server compromise, user data remains mathematically inaccessible to unauthorized parties. The market system simply routes encrypted blocks without the ability to decrypt them.

BlackOps Market is a Monero-only (XMR) ecosystem. We utilize the RandomX protocol with RingCT and stealth addresses to ensure transaction unlinkability. Bitcoin (BTC) is not supported due to the transparent nature of its blockchain, which poses an unacceptable OpSec risk to our user base. All wallet addresses are generated uniquely per session to prevent cluster analysis.

The escrow system utilizes a multi-signature wallet architecture. Funds are locked in a contract accessible only by the market controller and the intended recipient upon condition fulfillment. The standard holding period is 7-14 days depending on category. Funds are released either manually by the buyer upon delivery or automatically via smart-timer expiration if no dispute flag is raised by the purchaser.

To mitigate double-spend vectors and reorganization attacks, XMR deposits require 10 on-chain confirmations. This creates a latency of approximately 20-40 minutes depending on hashrate variance. This confirmation depth is non-negotiable for system stability. Users should account for this delay when planning time-sensitive acquisitions.

The auto-sweep function allows users to define a threshold for automatic forwarding of XMR to an external cold wallet. This minimizes the attack surface by reducing hot wallet holdings. Configuration of destination addresses requires 2FA PGP signature verification to prevent redirection attacks.

The workflow follows a linear path: Selection > Encryption > Escrow Lock > Dispatch > Finalization. The cart system supports multi-vendor aggregation. At checkout, shipping data must be encrypted with the vendor's PGP key. The system then locks the corresponding XMR value from the user's wallet into the escrow pool, pending fulfillment confirmation.

Vendor access is restricted. Candidates must pay a substantial bond in XMR to prevent sybil attacks. Verification requires proof of established reputation on other recognized hubs or a probationary period. Elite status (FE privileges) is algorithmically granted based on volume (300+ sales), dispute ratio (<1%), and feedback metrics.

The dispute resolution center (DRC) activates when a user flags a transaction before auto-finalization. A market moderator reviews the encrypted correspondence, blockchain proof of payment, and vendor logs. The moderator holds the third key in the multisig arrangement to direct funds to the rightful party based on provided evidence.

Finalize Early (FE) is a privilege granting vendors immediate access to funds upon marking an order as 'Dispatched', bypassing the escrow hold. This reduces vendor liquidity risk but increases buyer counterparty risk. FE is strictly limited to vendors with verified, long-standing operational history. Buyers should exercise discretion when engaging with FE terms.

The market employs a distributed mirror architecture with automated load balancing. If a specific .onion node becomes unresponsive due to network saturation or attack, the client should switch to an alternative mirror listed in the signed directory. The backend utilizes proof-of-work challenges to filter malicious traffic and maintain service availability.

The internal ticketing system handles all order-related inquiries. For account lockouts or cryptographic failures where login is impossible, users must utilize the external contact methods listed in the signed PGP release on the homepage. All external support communications must be PGP encrypted to receive a response.